NYSAMPO

The New York State Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (NYSAMPO) is a coalition of the fourteen MPOs in New York State, which have committed to work together toward common goals. We are a diverse group of organizations, representing very large, urban areas like New York City as well as small, urban areas like Elmira. Nevertheless, we have common interests and believe that working together on planning and research initiatives can help our organizations provide high quality transportation planning expertise to the public throughout the State.

If you have any questions or comments, please direct emails to NYSAMPO Staff.

Planning for Sustainable Transportation and Communities

NYSAMPO is pleased to release a White Paper on How New York’s MPOs are Planning for Sustainable Transportation and Sustainable Communities. Initiated by the Climate Change Working Group, this paper documents the ways in which our MPOs are responding to the growing concerns about sustainability. Some MPOs explicitly recognize sustainability in their long range transportation plans, while others use it as a criteria for evaluating projects for inclusion in their Transportation Improvement Program. Many are finding new partners to engage in planning efforts; some, like NYSERDA and HUD offer grant programs to underwrite these plans. From applying Smart Growth principles to supporting travel by non-motorized and energy efficient modes, it is clear that our MPOs attach significant value to sustainability.

FHWA and Volpe National Transportation Systems Center Release Products to Improve Safety of Cyclists and Pedestrians

As more people choose walking and bicycling for some of their trips, improving the safety of these modes has attracted more attention. Transportation agencies, and the planners and engineers that staff them are doing more to promote safety for all users when planning, designing, and operating metropolitan transportation systems. Now USDOT has provided two new tools.

FHWA has just released the Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design Guide. This report will help planners and engineers decide when to select separated bike lanes and where to apply them. It provides a four step design process that includes flexibility, and includes guidance on funding, maintenance, and operation.

The Volpe Center’s contribution focuses on a physical device to improve safety. Volpe explains that “truck side guards are vehicle-based safety devices designed to keep pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists from being run over by a large truck’s rear wheels in a side-impact collision. Volpe is advancing this technology’s adoption in the United States by conducting research and partnering with cities to help deploy side guards and other technologies that address the deadliest road crashes: those between large trucks and pedestrians or bicyclists. Click here for more information.

NYSAMPO Conference in Syracuse: June 22-24, 2015

NYSAMPO will be hosting our first statewide conference since 2010, offering a great opportunity for transportation planners, modelers, policy wonks, and others to come together and share best practice and new ideas. It will be held at the Syracuse Crowne Plaza hotel, within easy walking distance to both downtown and Syracuse University along the Syracuse Connective Corridor. See the Events Page for details.

A new fact sheet on “Knowing Your Pedestrian and Bicycle Laws” is now available. This and other facts sheets can be accessed at the NYSAMPO Fact Sheet page.

The Innovative DOT. Smart Growth America and the State Smart Transportation Initiative recently released the 3rd edition of “The Innovative DOT: A Handbook of Policy and Practice”. With eight focus areas, ranging from revenue sources to integrating transportation and land use decision making, this is a valuable reference . NYSAMPO and NYSDOT will use this as a reference four our Integrated Planning initiative.

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century.On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law the new surface transportation authorization passed by Congress. For more information from our Federal partners, see the FHWA MAP-21 Page and the FTA MAP-21 Page.

Strategic Highway Research Program 2. SHRP2 is a program of the Transportation Research Board, authorized by Congress to conduct implementation-oriented research in four areas: Capacity, Renewal, Reliability, and Safety. Much of the research has been completed, or is in its final stages. The Federal Highway Administration and AASHTO are sharing responsibility for implementation of projects ranging from providing training to highway incident responders to improve system reliability, to incorporating reliability measures in the Highway Capacity Manual. Find out more at: